Sales Tabs

10/19/2011

Pantone Barbie

The beyond literal interpretation left me almost speechless (almost being the operative word.) Pantone Barbie is not an unattractive doll and I even like the style of the dress but I keep staring at her the same way I'd stare at a car accident. I want to look away but I can't.

If you aren't familiar with Pantone, it is the name of a company whose color matching system is used by print professionals, all types of designers and other artists. The Pantone website is fascinating.

Hey Terri, first time posting on your blog! As a graphic designer I find the idea appealing and interesting, especially since Barbie is known as PMS219 in fact most in the graphic world refer to this color as Barbie Pink. So it is a cute reference. I like the design of the skirt and I like that they used the pantone chips in the design, those are the little samples we use in graphics, to identify color. They are also used however by fashion designers and fabric designers to identify thread colors. I would lose the floral touch on the top of the dress, I don't think that works so well in the pantone chips, be she has a lovely face and love her platinum hair.

@Angelic Dreamz: I agree with everything you have posted. I learned about Pantone as a photography student and a user of Adobe Photoshop.I loved the idea of the color chips so much that I purchased a box of them just to play with. Hope to see more of your comments on the blog.Terri

As someone who hires graphic designers for print work, and dabbles when necessary, I find the concept amusing, but incredibly niche. A bit surprising for Mattel, who is usually so mainstream as to be bland...

But who knows? This may become a hot Christmas gift for the artsy fartsy :D

I think it is a totally silly idea and agree with Edmond, the execution is bad. Not only do non graphic designers not know what the heck those lil swatchs are but even if they don't they make for a clumsy design. Not cute, sorry.

Also I'm surprised so many people are unfamiliar with Pantone. It's definitely not something only graphic designers know about since I am not a graphic designer but perhaps the only one here who has painted a room herself? :) I honestly thought it was in the realm of common knowledge. Shows what I know!

When I first saw this I scratched my head in confusion and uttered, "what were they thinking?!"

As a graphic artist/designer since the mid 80s before switching careers in 2003...I used those vibrant, expensive little markers in nearly every graphic job I had since graduation and even during my four years as a graphic design student...I liked the markers and always had a 'swatch' book and like many other designers - could look at it for hours and study the colors with fascination...

On a Barbie doll however, as a dress - I don't understand it. Maybe in theory? Maybe someone was inspired by the Sybarites? Maybe they watched one too many Project Runway episodes? Not sure...It just doesn't translate well.If I had to use only one word to describe my initial reaction - I would have to go with 'cheesy'

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When I switched photo servers a year ago, many of my images were lost in a black hole. If you are going back in time throughout my blog, you will come across these black holes. It's unfortunate but it would take me a huge amount of time to identify and republish the images. If there is a specific one you are very interested in, email me with the date of the post and I will try to get it for you.Thanks for your continued interest in my blog!Terri